Inking mechanism for printing-machines.



N0. 7|5,347. Patented Dec. I6, I902.

T. M. NORTH. INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

(Application filed. m2. 1, 1900.

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modem No. 7|'5,847. Patented Dec. I6, I902.

. T. M. NORTH.

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

, (Applicatiomflled Mir. 1. 1900 (No ModalJ 4 Sheets-Shoat 2.

m2 uonms Perms cq. wHcTo-uma. WASHINGTON, o. c.

No. 75,847. Patented Dec; I6, I902.

T. m. NORTH.

'INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 190m T E mamas PEYERS co, movuuwo, WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 715,847. Patented Dec. I6, I902. T. m. nom'u.

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MAGIHNES. 7

- A limion flisd mr. 1. 1900.) (No Ilodel.) I 4 Sheets-Sheat 4.

m: mums Pzrzns ca. PHOTO-LING" WASHINGTON, u. c

Nr ATES THOMAS M. NORTH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROBERT HOE AND CHARLES W. CARPEN- TER, COPARTNERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '71 5,847, dated December 16, 1902.

I Application filed March 1, 1900. Serial No. 6,939. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern;-

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. NORTH, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing'at New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain newandusefulImprovementsin InkingMech anism for Printing-Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in inking apparatus for printing-machines.

In order to operate printing-machines to effect good printing, it is well understood that the ink must be thoroughly and intimately mixed, broken up, and distributed on the rollers of the inking mechanism before it is applied to the form. In some cases, also, it is desirable to not only work up the ink on the inking-rollers, but also after such working up has been accomplished to allow them to run for a short time in'contact with the forms, so as to thoroughly ink the same before any impression is taken therefrom. In order to accomplish the-results referred to, it is customary to allow the machines to run for a longer Or shorter period, the impressions made during the process of inking up being thrown away. This mode of procedure is, however, expensive in that it requires a considerable waste of paper.

One of the Objects of this invention is to produce a rotary printing-machine inwhich theimpression member of the printing-couple is driven by a mechanism which is independ ent of the mechanism which drives the formcylinder and the inking mechanism, so that it is possible to drive the form-cylinder and the inking mechanism without driving the impression-cylinder during the process of inking up.

A further object of the invention is to produce a rotary printing-machine in which the impression-cylinder of the couple is driven by a mechanism which is independent of the mechanism by which the form-cylinder and inking mechanism are driven, the machine also including means by which the impression-cylinder can be separated from the formcylinder while the machine is being operated for the purpose of inking up.

A further object of the invention is to produce a printing-machine in which the impression-cylinder and the form-cylinder and the inking mechanism are independently driven and in which the form-rollers of the inking mechanism can be moved away from the path of rotation of the forms on the formcylinder, so that the inking-up operation may be performed in whole or in part without permitting the form-rollers to come in contact with the forms.

A further object of the invention is to produce a printing-machine employing a plurality of printing-couples, in which the impression -cylinders of the couples shall be driven from one set or train of mechanism and the form-cylinders and inking mechanism of the several couples shall be driven from another train of mechanism, so that the impression-cylinders may be thrown out of operation and the form-cylinders and inking mechanisms be permitted to run for the purpose of inking up.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements, and combinations, as will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of so much of a printing-machine as is necessary to illustrate the invention, the section being taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2, the frame being indicated in dotted lines in the interest of clearness. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1, parts of the frame being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the machine,t'aken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a detail side elevation of the two-form cylinders at the right-hand end of the machine.

The machine which has been selected to illustrate a concrete embodiment of the invention is a multicolor-printing machine preferably employing planographic printing-surfaces and adapted to print on a web in one color on one side and in two colors on the other side. The invention is not, however, limited to multicolor machines nor to machines employing planographic surface.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and'2 indicate the usual side frames, in which the several shafts of the machine are jonrnaled. The incoming web receives an impression on one side from a form-cylinder 3, said cylinder cooperating with an impression-cylinder 4, the cylinders 3 and 4 being mounted on shafts 5 and 6, respectively. After being printed on one side in the manner described the web is led around a large impression-cylinder 7, said cylinder being carried on ashaft 8. Cooperating with the impression-cylinder 7 are two form-cylinders 9 and 10, said cylinders being respectively carried on shafts 11 and 12. The shafts 5, 11, and 12 may be journaled in any suitable hearings in the side frames of the machine. The bearings of the shafts 6 and 8 will be hereinafter described.

The machine shown in the drawings is designed so that the operation of inking up may be performed while the impression-cylinder of each couple is at rest, the other parts of the machine being driven. While this may be accomplished in various ways, it is preferably accomplished by providing a mechanism for driving the impression-cylinders and another mechanism for driving the form-cylinders and the inking apparatus, these mechanism being independent of each other.

The mechanism by which the impressioncylinders are driven may be variously constructed and arranged. In the machine shown the power-shaft 13, which is located in suitable bearings in the machine-frames and is provided with any suitable driving arrangement-as, for instance, a belt-pulley 14carries on its inner end a pinion 15, which is secured to the shaft in any suitable manner, as by a key 16. This pinion 15 meshes with a pinion 17, which is secured to a shaft 18 in any suitable manner, as by a key 19. The shaft 18 is suitably journaled in the side frames and is arranged parallel with the power-shaft 13. The end of the shaft 18 opposite to that which carries the pinion 17 projects through the frame, and mounted on the projecting end is a pinion 20, said pinion being loose on the shaft. The hub 21 of this pinion is notched, so that it forms one part of a clutch mechanism, the other part consisting of a notched sliding collar 22, which is secured to the shaft by any suitable means, as by a feather 23. Any suitable means may be provided for sliding the collar 22 into and out of engagement with the notched hub 21. In the machine shown a yoke 24 is provided, said yoke being provided with pins 25, which take into a groove 26 in the collar. The yoke 24 is provided with a handle 27 and with a projecting end 28, mounted between cars 29, extending from the side frame 1, said end being mounted on a pin 30. The pinion is in mesh with a large gear 31, which is se cured to the impression-cylinder shaft 8 in any suitable manner, as by'a key 32. The gear 31 meshes with a gear 33, which is secured to the impression-cylinder shaft 6 in any suitable manner, as by a key 34. In the construction described it is obvious that when the main shaft is rotated and the parts 21 and 22 of the clutch are in engagement the impression-cylinders will be rotated by means of the pinion 20 and the intermeshing gears 31 33. If, however, the parts of the clutch are disengaged, the rotation of the main shaft will not rotate the impression-cylinder shafts.

The mechanism for driving the form-cylinders and the inking apparatus may be varied within wide limits. In the machine shown, however, the pinion 17, which has been before described, meshes with a large gear 35, which isloosely mounted on the shaft 8. The gear 35 meshes with three gears 36 37 38. The gear 36 is loosely mounted on the impression-cylinder shaft 6. The gears 37 and 38 are fast to the shafts 11 and 12, which carry the form-cylinders 9 and 10. The gear 36 meshes with a gear 39, which is fast to the shaft 5, which carries the form-cylinder 3. With the construction described it is obvious that when the power-shaft is rotated the formcylinders will be driven through the train of gearing just described.

Any suitable means may be employed by which the form-cylinder is caused to drive the inking mechanism. In the machine shown gears 40, 41, and 42 are shown as connected to the gears 39, 37, and 38, respectively, the connections being formed in any suitable manner, as by bolts.

Since the machine shown employs three form-cylinders, there are, of course, three groups of inking mechanisms. These groups of inking mechanisms may be of any suitable description. In the machine shown they consist of fountains 40, provided with fountainrolls 41, the ink being transmitted from these fountain-rolls by ductors 42 (the operating mechanism of which may be of any suitable character and is omitted in the interest of clearness) to distributingrolls 43. These distributing-rolls 43 are mounted on shafts 44, and to these shafts are secured gears 45, said gears meshing with intermediates 46,

which intermediates arein mesh with the gears 40 41 42, before described. The rolls 43 are therefore driven rolls, and cooperating with each of them is a group of rollers 47, said rollers serving to break up, mix, and distribute the ink on the rolls 43 in the usual manner. The ink is delivered from the rolls 43 by two rolls 48, said rolls running in contact with the rolls 43 and with other distributing-rolls 49. The rolls 49 are mounted on shafts 50 and are also driven rolls, their shafts being provided with gears 51, which mesh with intermediates 52, said intermediates being mounted on studs which project from the side frame 2. The intermediates 52 are also in mesh with the gears 41 42, before referred to. Cooperating with each of the rolls 49 is a group of form-rollers, two rollers being shown in each group and these rollers being marked 53 54. The rollers 53 are mounted on shafts 55, and the rollers 54 on shafts 56.

It is desirable to so construct the machine that it may be operated to work up the ink on the distributing and form rollers without allowing the form-rollers to come in contact with the form. While the mechanism by which this result may be effected may be varied within Wide limits in the machine shown, each of the shafts 55 is mounted in bearings 57, which are secured to blocks 58, there being one of these blocks for each shaft on each arm. 62, said arm being hung from the shaft 50 of the roll 49. In the same manner each of the shafts 56 is mounted in bearings 63, which are connected to blocks 64, there being one of these blocks for each shaft on each side of the machine. Each of the blocks 64 is secured in any suitable manner, as by a bolt 56 and slot 66, to a projection 67,

which is formed on or connected to an arm 68, hung from the shaft 50. Each group of rollers 53 54 being mounted in the manner described, it is apparent that by giving them a swinging movement about the shaft 50 as a center they will move toward and away from the path of the forms on the form-cylinder, but will remain in contact with the roll 49, so that the ink maybe thoroughlybroken up by them. Any suitable means may be employed for giving the rollers the movement referred tothat is, for swinging them about the shafts 50 as centers. In the machine shown two hubs are shown on each side of the machine, these hubs being marked 69 and 70, respectively. Each of the hubs 69 is provided with arms 71 72, said arms having recesses 73 74 in their ends. These recesses 73 74 are engaged by studs 75 '76, the stud 75 being mounted on one of the arms 68, before referred to, and the stud 76 on the other of the arms. In the same way each of the hubs 70 is provided with two arms 77 78. The arm 77 is provided with a recess 79 in its outer end, and the arm 78 is provided with a recess 80. The recess 79 engages a pin 81, formed on one of the arms 62, and the recess 80 engages a pin 82 on the other of the arms 62. The construction being as described, it is obvious that if the two hubs are given a rotat- In the machine shown the hub 69 is provided with an arm 83, which is provided at its outer end with a rack 84, and the hub 70 is provided with an arm 85, which is provided at its outer end with a rack 86. Suitably journaled in brackets 87 on each side of the machine are pinions 88, these pinions being located between the arms 83 of the upper right-hand form-cylinder and engaging the racks 84 86, which are carried on said arms. Journaled in brackets 89 on each side of the machine are similar pinions 90, which lie between the arms 83 85 of the hubs for the lower right-hand form-cylinder, these pin ions engaging the racks 84 86 of these arms. Suitably journaled in brackets 91 on each side of the machine are pinions 92, these pinions 92 engaging the racks on the arms 83 95 of the hubs of the left-hand form-cylinder. It is apparent that when any one of these pinions 88, 90, and 92 are rotated the hubs will be rotated in opposite directions. Preferably the hubs will all be arranged for simultaneous operation. To this end, therefore, the arms 83 of the right-hand form-cylinders are connected by rods 93, there being one of these rods on each side of the machine. Similarly the arms 72, extending from the hubs 69 70 of the lower right-hand form-cylinder, are connected by rods 94 with arms 95, extending from the hubs 69 70 ofthe left-hand form-cylinder. The brackets 89, on which the pinions are mounted, have extending from them arms 96, these arms being connected by a rod- 97, which extends from side to side of the machine. With this arrangement it will be seen that when any one of the pinions 88 9O 92 on either side of the machineis rotated the inking mechanisms will. be operated in the manner hereinbefore described. The rotation of the hubs may be effected in any desired manner. In the machine shown, however, each of the hubs 70 is provided with a handle 98, these handles being suitably connected to the hubsas, for instance, by being cast in one piece therewith. When, therefore, it is desired to throw out the inking mechanisms, so that they will not touch the form-cylinders, this can be done by moving any handle 98 which is convenient to the pressman.

It is of course desirable in machines employing impression-cylinders which do not have a low side that the form-cylinders do not touch the impression-cylinders while the form-cylinders are being rotated for the purposeofinking up. Thisresultmaybeeffected in various ways. In the machine shown the shaft 8 of the large impression-cylinder 7 is mounted in eccentric bushings 99, there being one of these bushings on each side of the machine, and the shaft 6 is mounted in similar bushings 100, there being also one of these bushings on each side of the machine. While these bushings might be independently operated, they are preferably connected for simultaneous operation. To this end the bushings 99 are provided with arms 101 and 'the bushings 100 with arms 102. A shaft 103, which is suitably mounted in the frames and extends across the machine from side to side, is provided,the said shaft carrying on each end blocks 104, said blocks being provided with handles 105. The arms 101 are connected with the blocks 101 by means of links 106, and the arms 102 are also connected to the blocks by links 107. When, therefore, either of the handles 105 is operated, the shaft 103, carrying the blocks 101, will be turned and the blocks will operate through the connections described to shit'tthe eccentric bushings, and thus move the impression-cylinders away from the form-cylinders. It will be understood, however, that only a slight movement is necessary, the movement being not sufficient to disturb the operation of the various gear-trains before described.

It is to be understood that the various mechanisms by which the invention is carried into effect may be varied within wide limits and that the invention is not, therefore, to be limited to the precise details of construction shown and described.

YVhat is claimed is 1. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotary printing-couple, of an inking mechanism, means for driving the impression member of the couple, independent means for driving the form-carrying member and the inking mechanism, means for disconnecting the impression member from the driving means, and means for moving the said impression member toward and away from the form-carrying member, substantially as described.

2. In a printing-machine, the combination with a power-shaft, of a rotary printing-couple, an inking mechanism, gearing whereby the power-shaft drives the impression mem berof the couple, independent gearing whereby the power-shaft drives the form-carrying member of the couple and the inking mechanism, and means for disconnecting the impression member from its driving-gearing, substantially as described.

3. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of inking mechanisms, means for driving these elements, means for disconnecting the impression members of the couples from the driving means without disconnecting the form-carrying members and the inking mechanisms, and means for separating the members of the couples, substantially as described.

4. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of inking mechanisms, a powershaft, means for driving the impression members of the couples from the power-shaft, means for disconnecting said members from the power-shaft, and means independent of the im-prcssion-member-driving means for driving the form-carrying members and the inking mechanisms from the power-shaft, substantially as described.

5. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of inking mechanisms, a powershaft, means for driving the impression members of the couples from the power-shaft, means for disconnecting said members from the power-shaft, means independent of the impression-memher-driving means fol-driving the form-carrying members and the inking mechanisms from the power-shaft, and means for separating the members of the couples, substantially as described.

6. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of inking mechanisms, a powershaft, means whereby the power-shaft drives the impression members of all the couples, independent means whereby the power-shaft drives the form-carrying members and the inking mechanisms, and means for disconnectiug the impression member driving means from the power-shaft, substantially as described.

7. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of inking mechanisms, a powershaft, means whereby the power-shaft drives the impression members of all the couples, independent means whereby the power-shaft drives the form-carrying members and the inking mechanisms, means fordisconnecting the impression-mcmber-driving means from the power-shaft, and means for separating the members of the couples, substantially as described.

8. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of inking mechanisms, a powershaft, a train of gearing on one side of the machine by which the power-shaft drives the impression-cylinders of the couples, a train of gearing on the other side of the machine by which the power-shaft drives the form-carrying cylinders, and means for disconnecting the impression-cylinder-driving means from the power-shaft, substantially as described.

9. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of inking mechanisms, a powershaft, a train of gearing on one side of the machine by which the power-shaft drives the impression-cylinders of the couples, a train of gearing on the other side of the machine by which the power-shaft drives the form-carrying cylinders, means for disconnecting the impression-cylinder-driving means from the power-shaft, and means for separating the members of the couples, substantially as described.

10. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of inking mechanisms, gears fast on the shafts of the impression members of the couples, a shaft carrying a loose gear which meshes with said gears, means for connecting said loose gear to and disconnecting it from its shaft, gears looseon the shafts of the impression members, means for driving said loose gears, and means whereby said loose gears drive the form-carrying members and the inking mechanisms, substantially as described.

11. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of inking mechanisms, gears fast on the shafts of the impression members of the couples, a shaft carrying a loose gear which meshes with said gears, means for conmeeting said loose gear to and disconnecting it from its shaft, gears loose on the shafts of the impression members, means for driving said loose gears, means whereby said loose gears drive the form-carrying members and the inking mechanisms, and means for separating the members of the couples, substantially as described.

12. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of shafts carrying the members of a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of gears fast on the shafts which carry the impression members of the couples, a plurality of gears loose on said shafts, a power-shaft, disconnectible connections between the power-shaft and the gears which are fast on the impression-member shafts, connections between the power-shaft and the gears which are loose on said shafts, a plurality of inking mechanisms, and gearing by which said loose gears drive the form-carrying members and the inking mechanisms, substantially as described.

13. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of shafts carrying the members of a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of gears fast on the shafts which carry the impression members of the couples, a plurality of gears loose on said shafts, a power-shaft, disconnectible connections between the power-shaft and the gears which are fast on the impression-member shafts, connections between the power-shaft and the gears which are loose on said shafts, a plurality of inking mechanisms, gearing by which said loose gears drive the form-carrying members and the inking mechanisms, and means for separating the members of the couples, substantially as described.

- 14. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of shafts carrying the members of a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of gears fast on the shafts which carry the impression members of the couples, a plurality of gears which are loose on said shafts, a power-shaft, a counter-shaft driven from the power-shaft, a gear fast on the counter-shaft and driving the loose gears, a gear loose on the counter-shaft for driving the gears which are fast on the impression-member shafts, means for securing said. gear to the counter-shaft, inking mechanisms, and

means whereby the loose gears drive the formcarrying members and the inking mechanisms, substantially as described.

15. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of shafts carrying the members of a plurality of rotary printing-couples, of a plurality of gears fast on the shafts which carry the impression members of the couples, a plurality of gears which are loose on said shafts, a power-shaft, a counter-shaft driven from the power-shaft, a gear fast on the coun- I ter-shaft and driving the loose gears, a gear loose on the counter-shaft for driving the gears which are fast on the impression-member shafts, means for securing said loose gear to the counter-shaft, inking mechanisms, means whereby the loose gears drive the formcarrying members and the inking mechanisms, and means for separating the members of the couples, substantially as described.

16. In an inking mechanism, the combination with a distributing-roll, of two auxiliary distributing-rolls, means for driving the distributing-rolls, arms hung on the shafts of the auxiliary rolls, form-rollers mounted in the arms, a pair of pivoted hubs having arms which engage the swinging arms, and means for turning the hubs on their pivots, substantially as described.

17. In an inking mechanism, the combination with a distributing-roll, of auxiliary distributing-rolls, form-rollers cooperating with the auxiliary rolls, a pair of pivoted hubs, and means whereby said hubs are caused to move the form-rollers toward and away from the forms, said hubs having gear-operated extensions, substantially as described.

18. The combination with a plurality of form-carriers, of a plurality of inking mechanisms, each inking mechanism including main and auxiliary distributing-rolls, a pair of hubs for each inking mechanism, means whereby each pair of hubs is caused to move the form-rollers of its inking mechanism toward and away from the path of the formcarrier with which it cooperates, gear-operated extensions by which the hubs are operated, and connections whereby all the hubs may be simultaneously operated, substantially as described.

19. In an inking mechanism, the combination with a distributing-roll, of auxiliary distributing-rolls, arms hung from the shafts of said auxiliary distributing-rolls, form-rollers, the shafts of which are supportedin said arms, a pair of pivoted hubs having arms which engage the arms for supporting the form-roller shafts, extensions from said hubs, said extensions having racks which face each other, and a gear meshing with the racks, substantially as described.

20. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating form-carrier, of a gear arranged to move at all times with said carrier, an inking mechanism driven from said gear, said mechanism including a distributing-roll and form-rollers located on each side of the IIO distributing-roll, means for moving the formrollers of the inking mechanism toward and away from the path of the form on the formcarrier without disturbing the position of the distributing-roll.

21. "In aprintingmachine, the combination with a rotating form-carrier, of a gear arranged to move at all times with said carrier, an inking mechanism driven from said gear, said mechanism including a distributing-roll and form-rollers located on each side of the distributing-roll, means for moving the formroller with the inking mechanism toward and away from the path of the form on the formcarrier, an impression-cylinder, and means for moving it toward and away from the formcarrier.

22. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating form-carrier, of a gear moving with said carrier, an inking mechanism driven from said gear, means for moving the form-rollers of the inking mechanism toward and away from the path of the form on the form-carrier, an impression-cylinder, means for moving it toward and away from the formcarrier, and means for stopping the rotation of the impression-cylinder without interfering with the rotation of the form-carrier, substantially as described.

23. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotating form-carriers, of a plurality of inking mechanisms including distributing-rolls and form-rollers, a gear moving with each of the form-carriers and operating to drive the distributing-rolls, and means for simultaneously moving the formrollers toward and away from the path of the forms on the form-carriers, substantially as described.

24. In aprinting-machine, the combination 0 with a plurality of rotating form-carriers, of a plurality of inking mechanisms including distributing-rolls and form-rollers, a gear moving with each of the form-carriers and operating todrive the distributing-rolls,

means for simultaneously moving the formrollers toward and away from the path of the forms on the form-carriers, a plurality of impression-cylinders, and means for simultaneously moving them toward and away from the form-carriers, substantially as described.

25. In a printing-machine, the combination with a plurality of rotating form-carriers, of a plurality of inking mechanisms including distributing-rolls and form-rollers, a gear form-carriers, a plurality of impression-cyl- 6o inders, means for moving them toward and away from the form-carriers, and means for stopping the rotation of the impression-cylinders without interfering with the rotation of the form-carriers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS M. NORTH.

Witnesses:

F. W. H. CRANE, L. RoEHM. 

